100 years ago

Skipton was in the grip of an outbreak of scarlet fever and all schools in the town had been closed. An emergency meeting of the council's hospital committee was held to discuss isolating patients. Ironically Skipton was building a hospital, on Granville Street, but the clerk informed members that there was no possibility of rushing work through. Instead it was resolved to open a temporary wooden building with eight beds for the worst cases to be kept in isolation.

The Boer War was the major national news story and the Herald reported on the son of Sgt Briley, who was the policeman for Stirton (yes even Stirton had its own policeman in those days). The son was a soldier who was wounded in the head by an exploding shell at the Battle of Spion Kop and was then hit again as he lay on the ground. He had been transported back to England and an operation had removed shell fragments from his head but he was partially paralysed.

The General Election had been fought over the conduct of the war - it was dubbed the Khaki Election - and Liberals, who narrowly won the seat, held a celebratory dinner in Bradley's Wesleyan Rooms attended by Whitley Thompson, who had triumphed by just 132 votes. At Long Preston Conservative Club, defeated Tory candidate Walter Morrison attended a dinner to thank all local supporters and said that while unsuccessful in Skipton, the country had returned the Conservatives with a large majority.

50 years ago

ROADS between Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale were in an "alarming" state according to Settle Rural District Council. Members said work had been planned 10 years previously but was postponed during the war. Members thought repairs were more important than the construction of the Settle bypass.

A power cut in Skipton caused consternation but the report makes it clear that electricity failures were far from uncommon. The problem in this case was the timing of the cut - Skipton was not due to lose its power at that time and men would return home to find their tea uncooked due to the unexpected power cut. The Yorkshire Electricity Board said the timing and duration of cuts was out of its control - it was dependent on the load and instructions from a controlling centre.

25 years ago

RIVALRY between Skiptonians and Barlickers spilled out from the Yorkshireman pub on to the setts in Skipton, resulting in five youths aged between 17 and 20 appearing in court to be fined or bound over. The chairman of the bench said: "It is a dreadful situation when people are turning Skipton High Street into a battlefield. The public expect us to deal very severely with cases of this description." Police said the scene resembled a battlefield and was bordering on an affray.

There was also trouble at the Harts Head Hotel in Giggleswick. The prosecution spoke of "an almighty disturbance". Four people appeared in court, but the police said there would have been several more but there was insufficient proof.

Rolls-Royce announced it was to close one of its three operations in Barnoldswick, Wellhouse Mill, where 500 people were employed. Management said that closure would improve the efficiency of Rolls-Royce operations in Barnoldswick.

The owner of the coach in which 32 people died at Dibble's Bridge in May was fined £75 for having defective brakes. His solicitor told magistrates in Skipton that he had never met a man more conscientious and honest than Norman Riley. The court was told that the coach was well-maintained and the failure of the brakes could not have been foreseen upon inspection.

Yellow lines in Settle had reduced takings in the town considerably claimed traders J Charlton, a shopkeeper, and R Rostron of Woodlands Caf. Coun Beth Graham said consideration should be given to a disc parking system.

10 years ago

FIFTY people were arrested as police broke up an acid house party at the former Webbs Site in Skipton Road, Cross Hills. A convoy of thousands from the Liverpool area had met on the M6 but many had got lost on route.

Gordon Prentice was selected as the Labour candidate to fight the Pendle seat at the next General Election. Pendle was held by Conservative John Lee.

Two lime trees at the gateway to Holy Trinity churchyard in Skipton were causing problems. Three experts could not agree on their condition so Craven District Council decided to call in a fourth. The Parochial Church Council wanted to fell the two trees and the first council expert said they were in a state of decay and should be axed. Another said there was nothing wrong with the trees but their root system was causing the churchyard wall to bulge and crack and should be felled while a third described the second's proposals as "legalised vandalism".